Michèle Plichta

The Centre for Disaster Protection finds better ways to stop disasters devastating lives and economies, by supporting countries to better manage disaster risk. We have convened the Crisis Lookout coalition which calls on the G7 to make urgent changes to how the world responds to risk and reacts to disasters. We propose a new approach for funding disasters that predicts the greatest risks, puts plans in place to respond when shocks occur, and makes sure communities have the funds they need when it matters most. We aim to be a ‘positive disrupter’, challenging the world to find better ways to prepare for and respond to disasters. We firmly believe that better is possible and we want to support countries and organisations as they take control and act earlier to protect people’s futures. Our niche area of expertise is disaster risk financing. We want to see a change in the way the world pays for disasters so that adequate support is available to those who need it, when they need it. This means not only looking at budgetary and financial tools available to governments to ensure money is available on a timely basis but also developing effective systems to plan and deliver that support to the most vulnerable people, ideally in a way that reduces future risks and needs. At the Centre, we want to help grow the emerging evidence base on how to better reach and support people in need. We want to work with governments and organisations to: create practical solutions; incentivise proactive risk management and risk financing; and support risk-informed decision-making. We want to increase the quality of budgetary and financial mechanisms and tools, and the quantity of finance that is available to countries to help manage, and ultimately reduce, their risks. The Centre is funded with UK aid from the UK government.